SKODA at the 'Auto China 2014'

ŠKODA model campaign in China: Doubling the range to six locally
produced models Heart of the brand: New ŠKODA Octavia launch in China
in May 2014 ŠKODA range in the compact segment: ŠKODA Rapid
Spaceback also in China Elegant compact SUV for the city: trade fair
premiere of the urban ŠKODA Yeti in China Growth: ŠKODA
deliveries in China up 7.5% in the first quarter of 2014 Growth Strategy:
more than 500,000 deliveries per year in China Trade fair: ŠKODA at
the ‘Auto China 2014’ in Beijing with 1,141m2 of exhibition
space in Hall E5

Mladá Boleslav/Beijing--April 17, 2014: ŠKODA is picking up
the pace in China, and the company’s current model campaign
continues: The highlight of the car maker’s appearance at the
‘Auto China 2014’ trade fair (20 – 29 April) in Beijing
will be the Chinese premiere of the new ŠKODA Octavia, which will go
on sale in China in May 2014. In addition, the company will be unveiling
the new ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback Xindong and the urban version of the new
ŠKODA Yeti at the trade show in China. ŠKODA’s model range
in China is set to double in 2014 to six locally produced models. Through
the product campaign and by expanding local production capacities,
ŠKODA aims to increase deliveries to customers in China to more than
500,000 cars per year until 2018. During the first quarter of 2014,
ŠKODA delivered over 62,000 vehicles to customers in China; an
increase of 7.5% over the first three months of last year.

“As ŠKODA’s largest individual market and the worldwide
number one growth market, China is a central pillar in our global growth
strategy,” says ŠKODA CEO, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland.
“ŠKODA is pushing ahead with its model campaign in China. The
new ŠKODA Octavia, the third generation of our best seller, will be
launched in the Chinese market in May. In addition, we will be expanding
our portfolio in China this year to include the new ŠKODA Rapid
Spaceback.” Alongside this model will be the recently introduced,
completely revised ŠKODA Yeti, ŠKODA Superb, ŠKODA Rapid
saloon and the ŠKODA Fabia. Vahland continues, “We want to
convince our Chinese customers of our brand’s good values and to
continue to grow powerfully with the most advanced and strongest ŠKODA
model range ever. As part of our growth strategy, we have set ourselves the
goal of increasing deliveries to customers in China to more than 500,000
vehicles per year. We are building on the longstanding and close
partnership we have with Shanghai Volkswagen to achieve this
goal.”

Premiere in China: The best ŠKODA Octavia ever

The new ŠKODA Octavia will be celebrating its Chinese premiere in
Beijing. ŠKODA’s bestseller is in a class of its own, setting
new standards in terms of space, functionality, technology and design in
the compact vehicle class. The new Octavia has grown in nearly every
dimension. No other vehicle in the compact segment offers a longer interior
or more legroom and headroom in the back. The car’s 590-litre boot is
the largest in its class, and the car’s functionality has been
improved through a number of ‘Simply Clever’ details.

Despite its larger size the third-generation Octavia is up to 90 kg
lighter than the previous model. The new Octavia now features a completely
new design. Never before has the Octavia been as dynamic or timelessly
elegant, distinctive, sophisticated and confident as the third generation.
Subtle design changes have been made to meet Chinese customers’
demands through the increased use of chrome elements. The new Octavia will
be available with two efficient petrol engines in China; the 1.4L TSI and
the 1.6L petrol.

The ŠKODA Octavia has been the heart of the brand, since 2007 also
in China, and is the base of success of the brand on the Chinese market.
Since then, 690.000 Octavias have been delivered to Chinese customers,
which is 61% of all ŠKODA vehicles sold in China during this period.
Around 119,200 Chinese customers opted for an Octavia in 2013 alone.

ŠKODA aims to build on the success of this range with the
third-generation model. In cooperation with Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW),
production starts in spring, with its market launch in May 2014. The
Octavia has already been a huge hit in Europe: over 62,000 units were
delivered to customers in the first quarter of 2014, corresponding to an
increase of more than 26% over the same period last year. “Both sales
and the number of incoming orders have exceeded our expectations,”
says Dr. Vahland. The new ŠkodaOctavia is one of the most
award-winning vehicles of its class and has beaten even premium brands in
numerous comparison tests.

The new Škoda Octavia Combi and new Škoda Octavia Scout can
also be seen in Beijing for the first time in China. Both models will be
demonstrating the rich variety of ŠKODA’s third-generation
success model at the trade fair in Beijing.

The new ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback: ŠKODA's young compact for
China

The introduction of the ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback at the Beijing Motor
Show signals the launch of the brand’s first Spaceback in the compact
class on the Chinese market. The new model expands the range offered by the
brand in China, positioned between the ŠKODA Fabia and the ŠKODA
Octavia. This brings the number of ŠKODAs currently manufactured in
China to six, including the Fabia, Rapid, Rapid Spaceback, Octavia, Yeti
and Superb. The Rapid Spaceback is the first compact vehicle from
ŠKODA to offer the brand’s traditional qualities in a
hatchback.

The dynamic and fresh design of the ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback appeals
to a younger audience. “The Rapid Spaceback is a spacious, practical
and versatile compact car with a sporty look,” says Dr. Frank Welsch,
Board Member for Technical Development. True to brand values, this young
compact offers lots of space, a wide range of ‘Simply Clever’
ideas, top safety, low consumption and excellent value for money.

Elegant compact SUV ready for any situation: The new urban ŠKODA
Yeti

The urban version of the ŠKODA Yeti, which is being introduced at
the trade fair in China for the first time, is an ideal companion for the
urban jungle. In 2013, the ŠKODA Yeti was completely redesigned and
now sports a host of new technical features. This popular compact SUV is
now available in two different versions - the elegant ŠKODA Yeti for
the city and the adventurous off-road version.

The locally produced Chinese version of the Yeti has a longer wheelbase
extended by six centimetres to cater to the requirements of Chinese
customers, and offers additional levels of comfort in the back. The
ŠKODA Yeti will be available in China with an optional rear mounted
spare wheel. A choice of three petrol engines will be available for the
Yeti in China; a 1.6 litre petrol engine, available exclusively for the
urban version, as well as the 1.4 TSI and the 1.8 TSI.

The core of the comprehensively redesigned ŠKODA Yeti is
represented in completely new front and rear sections incorporating
ŠKODA’s new design language. The visible exterior parts of the
urban version, such as bumpers, underride protection, side strips and door
sill covers, are painted in the vehicle body colour. In addition, there are
new alloy wheels and new interior design elements, such as the 3-spoke
steering wheels for the Yeti and four-spoke steering wheels for the Yeti
Outdoor, new materials and patterns, as well as innovative technological
features: The ŠKODA Yeti now offers an optional rear-view camera and
many new ‘Simply Clever’ solutions for both versions.

ŠKODA in China – A success story with over 1.13 million
vehicles sold since 2007

ŠKODA aims to strengthen its model campaign efforts in China to
achieve future sales of more than 500,000 vehicles per year. Since 2010,
China has been the largest individual market for the Czech carmaker. In
2013, the company delivered 227,000 vehicles to customers in China; this is
almost a quarter of ŠKODA’s total sales last year.

The first model produced in China was the ŠKODA Octavia in 2007.
ŠKODA has sold a total of over 1.13 million vehicles on the Chinese
market since then. In 2008 it was followed by the ŠKODA Fabia and the
ŠKODA Superb in 2009. The ŠKODA Yeti has been available in China
since 2013, first as an export model and later as a vehicle produced in
China in partnership with Shanghai Volkswagen since the end of 2013. The
ŠKODA Rapid compact sedan has been available in the Chinese market for
a year. “ŠKODA has made fantastic strides over the past seven
years in China. We are entering a new phase with our new models and we aim
to sell half a million cars per year,” says Prof. Vahland.

ŠKODA is counting on its close partnership with Shanghai
Volkswagen. “SVW is a reliable and competent partner for
ŠKODA,” Vahland adds. Since the brand entered the Chinese
market, more than one million ŠKODAs have been produced at the SVW
plant, or approximately 10% of the total ten million vehicles manufactured
here since 1983. ŠKODA currently manufactures cars at three locations
in China.

ŠKODA Growth Strategy a success

ŠKODA AUTO has been on top form so far this year; the company has
sold more cars in the first quarter of 2014 than ever before in the first
three months of a year. Between January and March, the brand delivered
247,200 vehicles to customers worldwide, that is an increase of 12.1% over
the same period last year. In March, deliveries increased by 14.6% compared
to last year to 96,100 vehicles (March 2013: 83,800). That was the best
March in corporate history.

The model campaign will be moving into the next stage over the coming
months. The premiere of the striking ‘ŠKODA VisionC’
design concept at the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March signalled
the dawn of the brand. This emotionally designed five-door coupé is leading
the next stage in the evolution of ŠKODA design. At the same time, the
concept also introduces a new innovative body concept for the ŠKODA
brand.